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Hope Captures MIAA Commissioner's Cup

Hope College has won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Commissioner's Cup for the best overall athletic performance during the 2008-09 school year.

The Commissioner's Cup is presented to the league member with the best cumulative finishes in the 18 men's and women's sports sponsored by America's oldest collegiate conference. The NCAA Division III affiliated conference consists of nine schools -- Adrian, Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Kalamazoo, Olivet, Saint Mary's and Trine.

It marks the ninth consecutive year that Hope has won or share the honor and the 24th time since 1980.

Hope also finished first in the MIAA men's and women's all-sports standings. It marks the fifth time in 11 years that Hope has led both categories in the same school year.

A year ago Hope and rival Calvin shared the Commissioner's Cup, a first in the 71-year history of the award. This year Hope's margin of victory over second place Calvin was 11 points.

In the men's all-sports standings Hope edged Calvin 94-93 while in the women's all-sports standings the margin was 10 points (114-104) in Hope's favor.

Hope crowned MIAA champions in four sports -- volleyball, men's swimming & diving, women's basketball and women's tennis. The Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch displayed amazing competitiveness with no team in any of the 18 sports finishing lower than fourth place.

The Commissioner's Cup has been presented since 1934-35. Hope has won the award a record 31 times, followed by Albion 14, Kalamazoo 13, Calvin 9 and Alma 5.